The Golden State Warriors are about to open their 2026-27 season Wednesday night in Los Angeles, but they’ll do it shorthanded. Jimmy Butler is among the key players set to miss the game against the Lakers, and his absence will linger for a good portion of the year as he works back from the torn ACL he suffered a year ago.
Even so, Steve Kerr had encouraging words about where Butler stands in his recovery. Speaking to Logan Murdock of The Ringer, the Warriors coach said, “He’s doing great.
I just talked to him this morning. He was in our weight room.
He looks good. He feels good.”
Kerr didn’t stop there. He also leaned into the rare presence Butler brings when he’s on the floor, comparing that edge to two of the biggest names in basketball history.
“He just has this aura about him, and it’s a very unique trait. Michael Jordan had it, Kobe had it.
I’m not just talking about physical dominance or skill dominance or how many points you score. I’m talking about an emotional hold on a game where everybody in the gym knows you’re the man,” he said.
Butler has always carried that kind of forceful personality, for better and worse. It has created friction at times with fans and teammates, but it has also produced real success, including the run that pushed the Miami Heat to two NBA Finals appearances before that relationship eventually unraveled.
Golden State has seen flashes of what Butler can mean alongside Stephen Curry since the 2025 trade with Miami, but injuries have kept that pairing from reaching postseason pay dirt so far.
The Warriors and Lakers will tip off Wednesday at 10:00 pm ET from Los Angeles.
In Other News...
Warriors May Be Forced Into A Frontcourt Move Sooner Than Expected
Kristaps Porzingis being sidelined by an illness and Charles Bassey dealing with knee tendinitis has left the Warriors with a thinner center rotation than they likely expected this early. For now, Golden State is leaning on Al Horford, whose minutes will be managed, and two-way big man Graham Ike as it tries to keep the middle of the floor covered.
The situation has put a spotlight on a frontcourt group that already looked like a potential pressure point, and it may force the Warriors to move sooner than planned if the shortage lingers. With the season moving along, the team is expected to weigh whether adding more center depth, or even a better option, becomes necessary to stabilize the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Injury Crunch Puts Steve Kerr In A Tough Lakers Decision
Brandin Podziemski has been ruled out for the Warriors game against the Lakers, adding another layer to a rotation that is already being stretched by injuries. Golden State has been dealing with a long list of unavailable or uncertain bodies, with Jimmy Butler, Kristaps Porzingis, Moses Moody and Charles Bassey all either sidelined or questionable as Steve Kerr tries to patch together a workable lineup.
Will Richard, meanwhile, is suddenly in the conversation again after being out of the mix recently. With so many pieces in flux, the Warriors may need to lean on depth they have not had to trust much lately, and that makes the pregame decisions even more important against a Lakers team that can punish any shortage of available defenders or ball handlers. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Kerr Just Made The End Of This Warriors Era Feel Real
Steve Kerr is heading into his 13th season on the Warriors sideline, and the conversation around his future is starting to sound a lot more deliberate than hypothetical. With two years left on his contract, Kerr said he does not want to walk away too early or hang on too long, and he pointed to a runway that at least stretches through the 2027-28 season. For a franchise that has lived through so much of the same era with Kerr, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, the timeline alone says plenty.
The interesting part is how naturally Kerr tied his own decision-making to the arc of the veterans who have defined this run. He said he could envision retiring alongside Curry and Green, which is the kind of remark that makes the end of an era feel less abstract and a little more real. For now, Kerr is talking more about the excitement of this team and the start of training camp, but the fact that he is already framing the finish line is its own signal about where the Warriors are headed. [Read more 🡒]